ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I am not someone who talks easily. Most of the time, I respond when spoken to, but otherwise I keep to myself.

I grew up in a home where silence was a weapon. When my mother was angry with my father, she would stop speaking to him. Sometimes it lasted for days. Sometimes, believe it or not, it lasted for years. Somehow, they are ...Read more

Dear Annie: Although many years have passed since my husband died, I don't feel any peace. There was no justice whatsoever.

A young girl talking on her cellphone (cellphone records proved this!) lost control of her vehicle on a busy early morning on the highway. Four witnesses testified to her weaving erratically all over the narrow highway ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am an adult now with grown siblings, but it seems my mother's anxiety is growing right along with us.

My mother is an incredibly anxious person. I try to be empathetic, but she hasn't seen a therapist in years, and she completely dismisses any logical or positive reassurances meant to comfort her. At this point, I am at a loss ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am middle-aged and lost my job during the pandemic when the company I had been with for years eliminated my position. Despite my experience and education, I have not been able to find anything permanent or full-time since.

I feel like I am too old to be hired and too young to retire. My husband and I live in an economically ...Read more

Let's assume you're well-organized and dripping with money smarts but the money under your control is still not exactly "significant." Angry? Discouraged? Great! You're ripe for upward movement. There are a zillion ways to bring in more money. These are only a few imagination stirrers:

--Finish your schooling. A college degree will get you two-...Read more

Dear Annie: I am heartbroken over my daughter-in-law's sudden and painful change in behavior since the birth of our grandson a year ago.

Before the baby was born, we had a warm relationship. For four years, she was sweet, kind and very much a part of our large extended family. She joined family trips, holidays and even our "happy birthday" ...Read more

Dear Annie: I moved to northern Florida over a year ago to help care for my parents. My sister has lived in southern Florida for many years, and for as long as I can remember, nearly every conversation with her includes the same question: "When are you coming down?"

Before I moved here, she asked it constantly. Once, she and her husband ...Read more

Dear Annie: My 15-year-old daughter was given a piece of sentimental jewelry on the day of her grandmother's funeral. It had belonged to her grandmother, and the gesture was meant to be a beautiful way for my daughter to carry a piece of her with her.

At the time, my daughter seemed touched. She wore it a few times, and I remember feeling ...Read more

I had forgotten about the time change and the hour that I thought we'd have before the game vaporized. We checked in and raced to the Mexican restaurant, where the likelihood of the game playing would be high.

My husband dropped me off to verify if TVs were playing the game. There were and there were others with green jerseys like what all of ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I are members of a local church, though I will admit we are not exactly front-pew regulars. We go about once a month, sometimes more during holidays or when life is calmer. Our faith matters to us, but we practice it quietly and privately.

One of our neighbors and her husband also belong to the same church. They are ...Read more